Hello all,

My ammonia is at 0 - PH is at 7.0 to 7.2 - Nitrite is at 0.50 and my Nitrate is at just a bit under 5.0 . I's like my PH to be up to around 7.6 and my Nitrite and Nitrate to go down. I just did a 50-55% change on Saturday. The reason why I did that much of a % change is cause there was a decent amount of waste sitting at the bottom. I wanted to move the baubles from the filter to avoid any kind of carbon dust.

My last reading was on the 25th PH 7.4 - ammonia .25 - nitrite 0.50 - nitrate 5.0 .

What can i do to lower my n02 and n03?

it sounds to me like you are just ending the cycling process, or you are going through a mini cycle. You need to keep an eye on your water readings, and if either your ammonia, or your Nitrite go up at all do a water change.

Don't clean your filter at all until this process is over!

Hope this helps.

when your filter is totally established you will no longer have an ammonia or nitrite reading. nitrates however you will always have. they are controlled by doing weekly water changes.
a couple of questions for you firstly how long has your tank been setup? what size is it? what kind of filtration are you runnning? and finally what kind of fish are in it?

1.5 months
20gallon
hob filter
2 tiger O's
1 albino O
1 blood red parrot
1 pelco

I know this size isnt good at all but that's going to change within 2 weeks from now cause im getting the 55g setup. They are looking good and doubled the size. I really need to get the tank asap cause of there rapid growth. For the most part i feed them rosies. Im not using beefheart anymore, and i used Oscarshow pellets as well.

I'm surprised to fish have lasted this long. If all you are getting is a 55 gallon tank then I suggest you get rid of all your fish apart from one of the Oscars because that tank is not going to be big enough for all the fish you have listed

I just plan on putting the 3 O's in the 55g

I'm sorry, but 55 gallons is way too small for three Oscars. Obviously it's totally up to you but if you do run into water quality problems which then leads to poorly Oscars we are not going to be able to help you because you will be grossly overstocked

Understood and of course i will take your info into consideration. I pretty much read alot on this site and gather up the info from others. I dont post to much but no need for my info which is just cycled from others.

Oscurida wrote:


I think you should do more than take things into consideration, if you dont get a bigger tank or keep just one oscar in the 55g you WILL ger health problems with your fish